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Chivas Century of Malts

Average score from 4 reviews and 4 ratings 89

Chivas Century of Malts

Product details

  • Brand: Chivas
  • Bottler: Unknown
  • ABV: 40.0%

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@markjedi1
Chivas Century of Malts

In 1995 Chivas surprised with the Century of Malts, a blended malt (then still a vatted malt, by the way) of no less than 100 malt whiskies, including – according to the leaflet in the box – quite a few that are no longer with us. It is not an easy thing to find a bottle nowadays. My first though, however, is… why on earth would you want to mix 100 malt whiskies? What good can come of this? But perhaps I’ll change my mind in a few minutes.

The nose is honeysweet and in all honesty not very different from the regular 12 (I also just tried the ‘special’ Millennium release and the difference is negligible). It hardly shows any fruitiness bar some oranges. Again mostly sugars and honey with just a hint of marzipan and a classic quatre quart cake. The biggest difference is the fact that this one has a nice bit of smoke. I would have to check the booklet to find out which Islay went into the mix, but truth be told cannot be bothered. I expected much more of this.

Well, now, on the palate it is a whole different story. This is much better! Yes, this has depth. First sweet on grain cookies with almonds and honey, followed by orangettes and then some heather and hay, but the whole is wrapped in a soothing blanket of smoke. The spices start to play their role as well. I get some mocha, espresso with chocolate shavings and whipped cream, mokatine, roasted hazel nuts, green grapes (pith included) and chestnut. This is quite nice!

The finish is fairly long, fairly spicy and fairly smoky. Fairly warm too.

The nose did nothing for me, but this Century of Malts more than made up for that on the palate and in the pleasant finish. But I still think it’s crazy to blend 100 single malts (unless you are creating a Frankendram, obviously).

@newreverie

This whiskey blend was released as a one off in 1995. It is perhaps the rarest bottle in my collection. I am down to two sample bottles and the Glencairn I hold in my hands.

You've probably never heard of this bottling or maybe you forgot about it as over 2 decades have passed since its release. I stumbled across this bottle about 3 years ago for around $80.

If you want to know more about the contents, I have provided that information at the bottom of this review.

Nose: I used a cover to concentrate the nose of this old bottle. When removed I find cherry cough syrup, pipe tobacco, heather and a mix of floral - lilac, lavender, jasmine. When these die down you can detect salty undertones - cured bacon. Finally sweet peat notes join in just the right way. This is quite a feat considering the diversity of malts. Chivas has done a masterful job balancing out the various regions while also adding new and interesting experiences.

Taste: Very good. First smoky peat rolls onto your young like a Scottish fog. Within the mists honey and heather remind me of the Highland components in this blend. There is also a nuttiness that comes from the malt. I was worried that there would be a heavy handed use of Sherry given the cherry notes in the nose, but that is not the case. Although the taste is excellent, I feel there could be more depth.

Finish: Sweet. Perhaps a little too sweet. There is also a little spice that balances out the sweetness.

Balance: Overall everything in this blend fits. Although it is a little sweet for my tastes, it feels like an intentional choice by the blender. I do not know if Century of Malts is greater than the sum of its parts, but it is unique in a positive way.

Final Thoughts: Over the years I have shared this remarkable Scotch with friends and family. No matter their preferences, everyone has found something to like. Perhaps the greatest outcome from artfully blending together malts from 100 distilleries is that there exists a special depth that is not achievable in any other blend or single malt.

"ONE HUNDRED SINGLE MALTS. This bottle contain 100 single malt Scotch whiskies - an unequalled collection. From the Highlands and the famous Spey Valley, the distant Islands, and the soft, harmonious Lowlands, a hundred ancient oak casks have yielded their treasure. The result is superb, of incomparable richness and age. Only the cellars of Chivas Brothers could produce such an historic tribute to the spirit of SCOTCH MALT WHISKY".

These are the 100 distilleries single malts Scotch whiskies in The Century of Malt: Aberfeldy, Aberlour, Allt a 'Bhainne, Ardbeg, Auchentoshan, Auchroisk, Aultmore, Balblair, Balmenach, Balvenie, Banff, Ben Nevis, Benriach, Benrinnes, Benromach, Blair Athol, Bowmore, (Royal) Brackla, Braeval, Brechin, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Caperdonich, Clynelish, Convalmore, Cragganmore, Craigduff, Craigellechie, Dailuaine, Dallas Dhu, Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Deanston, Dufftown, Fettercairn, Glen Albyn, Glenallachie, Glenburgie, Glencadam, Glen Craig, Glen Elgin, Glen Esk, Glenfarcles, Glenfiddich, Glengarioch, Glenglassaugh, Glen Grant, Glengoyne, Glenisla, Glen Keith, Glenkinchie, The Glenlivet, Glenlochy, Glenlossie, Glen Mhor, Glen Moray, Glenrothes, Glen Scotia, Glen Spey, Glentauchers, Glenturret, Glenugie, Glenury Royal, Highland Park, Imperial, Inchgower, Inchmurrin, Inverleven, Isle of Jura, Kinclaith, Knockando, Ladyburn, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ledaig, Linkwood, Littlemill, Longmorn, Macallan, Macduff, Mannochmore, Miltonduff, Mortloch, Mosstowie, Ord, Pittyvaich, Pulteney, Rhosdhu, Scapa, Speyburn, Springbank, Strathisla, Strathmill, Tamdhu, Tamnavulin, Teaninich, Tomatin, Tomintoul, Tormore and Tullibardine.

@Ol_Jas Yes tongue. Although now you have me imagining the young children are named honey and heather. Poor kids are lost in the fog trying to find their friend Sherry.

The best part is that list of distilleries! Sounds like my home solera bottle. :)

And how fun is it to see the likes of Ardbeg, Springbank, and Macallan named on that list? You don't come across that too often these days. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen Springbank named in a blend outside of the blends that they themselves make.

@MaltActivist

These drink giants are known for their marketing gimmicks and will do anything to get rid of stock lying around. And I was pretty sure this expression with 100 single malts was just that.

I was wrong.

It has a lovely fruity nose with tangerines, honey melon and pomegranate seeds. All clumped together with sticky toffee and candied fruits. Finished off with a touch of wood, fresh cucumbers and a hint of smoke.

The palate has all that the nose had on offer. But with it comes a creamy limestone chocolate quality with a wisp of smoky peat. Very, very nice.

The finish is long and satisfying with a touch of wood and cherry cinnamon.

If this is a gimmick it's certainly a successful one!

@ryanloewe

Apparently this was released in 1995. A blend of 100 malts. I've read that it's vatted, no grain, but nothing totally confirming this. With 100 malts to blend I'd like to think there's no room for any grain whisky, though. The shop I frequent found some in their store room and put them on the floor and I couldn't resist picking it up.

Body: Between medium light to medium

Nose: Vanilla, Toffee, Pecans (pralines?), sherry, fruitcake. Very sweet.

Palette: Up front many of the sweet nosings appear on the tongue, vanilla, fruit, nut and winy notes, but quickly move into heathery smoke and and peat. A nice contrast and a surprise as the smokey and peaty side of this blend is not evident on the nose, though it shouldn't be surprising knowing it contains Laphroaig, Caol Ila, Lagavullin, Ladaig and many other island staples.

Conclusion: A really great and unique blend. With 100 malts, it sounds like a bit of a gimmick; like a soda fountain suicide. But whoever was in charge of blending this knew what they were doing. Containing so many malts beloved on their own for their unique flavors, the task to make them all work together seems daunting to me. But this is a fun and genuinely complex and well balanced malt blend that wasn't just thoughtlessly tossed together just to be able to put a bottle on the market claiming to have 100 different malts within.

LeFrog, the shelf price was $57, though I got it at the case price of 46. I spent a good bit of time talking scotch with one of the clerks there and he told me about it, and explained how they just found a few in the back and put them out, and was nice enough to give me a good deal.

I have no idea what this originally sold for, but I'd be curious to know. Since it came out in '95 there would be some inflation to account for. The few online shops I've found it in so far have it anywhere from $76-$450. $450?!?! It may be scarce now, and it is a really great blend, but I can think of better ways to spend that much on scotch.

I got this one in my cabinet and however I was a bit hesitant at first as well (got it as a present), I can confirm it's one of the better blends I came across. Really like it, not sure if I would rate it that high, though.

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